On Holy Pascha of 1993 (April 18), three monks of Optina Hermitage-- Hieromonk Vasily (Roslyakov), Monk Trophim (Tatarinov), and Monk Therapont (Pushkaryov)-- received holy martyrdom at the hands of a Satanist. Many faithful express the hope that these new martyrs for Christ will soon be canonized.
"On Great and Holy Friday, two days before Father Vasily’s death, he experienced a profound spiritual moment during a divine service. He suddenly paused while stepping onto the solea to proclaim stichera and fell silent. At that moment, the choir sang in his stead, 'Heaven at this was amazed, and the sun hid its rays.' Father Vasily remained discreet about the details of this experience.”
“Before the Paschal liturgy, Father Vasily was tasked with preparing the proskomidia. Normally adept at this duty, he found it unusually difficult this time. Urged by the dean to hasten, he responded, 'I’m sorry, I can’t. It’s so hard, as if I were cutting through my own flesh.'"
"On Great and Holy Friday, two days before Father Vasily’s death, he experienced a profound spiritual moment during a divine service. He suddenly paused while stepping onto the solea to proclaim stichera and fell silent. At that moment, the choir sang in his stead, 'Heaven at this was amazed, and the sun hid its rays.' Father Vasily remained discreet about the details of this experience.”
“Before the Paschal liturgy, Father Vasily was tasked with preparing the proskomidia. Normally adept at this duty, he found it unusually difficult this time. Urged by the dean to hasten, he responded, 'I’m sorry, I can’t. It’s so hard, as if I were cutting through my own flesh.'"
In 2005, a chapel in honour of the Resurrection of Christ was erected over the graves of the three monks who had suffered martyrdom. Many pilgrims receive grace through prayers to the new martyrs of Optina, and the monastery brethren are actively gathering evidence for the future canonisation of these slain ascetics.”
From https://obitel-minsk.org/en/optina-new-martyrs-slain-on-pascha
From https://obitel-minsk.org/en/optina-new-martyrs-slain-on-pascha
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me!
During this prayer, says Archpriest Theodore Gignadze, you should not be “looking for some spiritual gifts.
Instead, the words ‘have mercy on me’ must be rightly motivated by the realization that you are in hell. It must be motivated by the feeling that you are perishing and are on the brink of spiritual death.” Otherwise, you are deluded.
“So, what is delusion? Delusion is living in a lie.
And what does it mean to live in a lie? It is when you think that you are something...
If, however, you are at the bottom of hell, how can you possibly fall into delusion?”
During this prayer, says Archpriest Theodore Gignadze, you should not be “looking for some spiritual gifts.
Instead, the words ‘have mercy on me’ must be rightly motivated by the realization that you are in hell. It must be motivated by the feeling that you are perishing and are on the brink of spiritual death.” Otherwise, you are deluded.
“So, what is delusion? Delusion is living in a lie.
And what does it mean to live in a lie? It is when you think that you are something...
If, however, you are at the bottom of hell, how can you possibly fall into delusion?”
Lord, grant us tears of
repentance over our lustfulness, as these great saints have done.
“Weep over your sin: it is a spiritual ailment; it is death to your immortal soul…
I weep over my indulgences in lust, impure thoughts and evil inclinations; covetousness, gluttony, drunkenness, and sloth;
I weep for having talked idly, used foul language, blasphemed, derided, joked, ridiculed, mocked, enjoyed empty gaiety, singing, dancing and every pleasure to excess…”
☦️St Basil the Great
repentance over our lustfulness, as these great saints have done.
“Weep over your sin: it is a spiritual ailment; it is death to your immortal soul…
I weep over my indulgences in lust, impure thoughts and evil inclinations; covetousness, gluttony, drunkenness, and sloth;
I weep for having talked idly, used foul language, blasphemed, derided, joked, ridiculed, mocked, enjoyed empty gaiety, singing, dancing and every pleasure to excess…”
☦️St Basil the Great
‘I want to be saved, but I do not know the way to salvation.’ Brother! Through the Holy Scriptures and through our fathers God has shown us the way to salvation, saying: 'Ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you' (Deut. 32:7). So if you wish not to go astray on the path of salvation, do nothing without asking the spiritual fathers, and you will not err, thanks to the grace of God Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth' (I Tim. 2:4). Sts. Barsanuphius and John. Directions in Spiritual Work, Text #71. Philokalia, B#23.
“She had left her parents at the age of 12 to go to Alexandria, where she spent the next 17 years in debauchery and the greatest profligacy. Living on charity and linen-weaving, she nevertheless offered her body to any man, not being forced to it by dire necessity as were so many poor women, but as though she were consumed by the fire of desire that nothing was able to appease...When she realized the fullness of her sinfulness through a divine revelation, she prayed and heard a voice from on high: ‘If you cross the Jordan, you will find rest.’ She crossed the river and lived from that time on in the desert for 47 years without encountering another human being or any animal.
Protected by God, who desires nothing but that the sinner should turn to Him and live, she uprooted all the passions from her heart by means of her extraordinary ascesis and was able to turn the fire of carnal desire into a flame of divine love that made it possible for her to endure the implacable desert with joy as though she were not in the flesh...”
—From the Life of St. Mary of Egypt
—From the Life of St. Mary of Egypt
The Icon of the Mother of God of Mount Athos, “Sweet Kissing” (Apr 20) is associated with many miracles, even one involving a pilgrim who was skeptical of the miracle stories he heard. The man, from Adrianopolis, visited Philotheou Monastery in 1830. He listened attentively to a monk tell the story of the holy Icon and the miracles associated with it, but he regarded the account as a fictitious tale which only a child might believe. The monk was grieved at the man’s unbelief, and tried to persuade him that everything he had said was absolutely true. The unfortunate pilgrim remained unconvinced.
That very day, as the pilgrim was walking on an upper balcony, he slipped and began to fall. He cried out, “Most Holy Theotokos, help me!” The Mother of God heard him and came to his assistance. The pilgrim landed on the ground completely unharmed." bit.ly/3alz0Dq
Photo source: Mount Athos - Greece Facebook page
That very day, as the pilgrim was walking on an upper balcony, he slipped and began to fall. He cried out, “Most Holy Theotokos, help me!” The Mother of God heard him and came to his assistance. The pilgrim landed on the ground completely unharmed." bit.ly/3alz0Dq
Photo source: Mount Athos - Greece Facebook page
A contrast revealed in icons
St. Mary of Egypt: repented in tears, struggled valiantly against temptations and received longed-for Mystical Supper, the Cup of Salvation, from the hand of St. Zozimas. Judas Iscariot: left the Mystical Supper after betraying his Master, leaving behind an empty halo and a mere silhouette in the place of where he should have been had he not turned his back on Jesus Christ. He brought upon himself the despair of guilt without repentance.
St. Mary of Egypt: repented in tears, struggled valiantly against temptations and received longed-for Mystical Supper, the Cup of Salvation, from the hand of St. Zozimas. Judas Iscariot: left the Mystical Supper after betraying his Master, leaving behind an empty halo and a mere silhouette in the place of where he should have been had he not turned his back on Jesus Christ. He brought upon himself the despair of guilt without repentance.
If you fall, rise up. If you fall again, rise up again. Only do not abandon your Physician, lest you be condemned as worse than a suicide because of your despair. Wait on Him, and He will be merciful, either reforming you, or sending you trials, or through some other provision of which you are ignorant.
☦️ St. Peter of Damaskos (“Twenty-Four Discourses,” VIII Mortification of the Passions, The Philokalia)
☦️ St. Peter of Damaskos (“Twenty-Four Discourses,” VIII Mortification of the Passions, The Philokalia)
As we approach Palm Sunday, let us remember Saint Corona patron saint of plagues and afflictions. The Greek variant of her name is Stephanie. The saint was tied between two palm trees and when the tree trunks were released her body was torn.
St Corona/Stephanie had caught the attention of authorities at the age of 16 for coming to the aid of a Roman soldier named Victor, who was being tortured for being a Christian. Victor had his eyes gouged out and was beheaded. The two martyr-saints are commemorated on November 11.
St Corona/Stephanie had caught the attention of authorities at the age of 16 for coming to the aid of a Roman soldier named Victor, who was being tortured for being a Christian. Victor had his eyes gouged out and was beheaded. The two martyr-saints are commemorated on November 11.
The miracle-working life of the Great Martyr George (Apr 23/ May 6) increased the number of the Christians in the Roman Empire, thus enraging the Roman emperor, Diocletian. Under Diocletian, George, a soldier in the Roman army, received the crown of martyrdom in the last days of the pagan era. Within ten years, St Constantine would grant religious freedom to Christians.
Icon of St. George from the Monastery of Christ of Symvoulas, in Cyprus
Icon of St. George from the Monastery of Christ of Symvoulas, in Cyprus
How beloved are Your dwellings, O Lord of hosts. My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh greatly rejoice in the living God. For even the sparrow found a house for herself, and the turtledove a nest for herself, where she will lay her young, Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they shall praise You unto ages of ages. Blessed is the man whose help is from You, O Lord; he purposed ascents in his heart in the valley of weeping, into the place he appointed; for there the lawgiver shall give blessings.